Nitrous Oxide

Current research programme

The current focus of the NZAGRC’s nitrous oxide (N2O) research programme is on measuring the effects pasture plants and pasture plant communities have on nitrous oxide emissions.

This work is closely aligned to the MBIE P21 and Forages for Nitrate Leaching programmes (FRNL). In addition, an investigative project on a technology to locate and treat urine patches was completed in 2015/16.

Principal investigators

Research Stories

PhD opportunity: University of Waikato

NOT LONGER AVAILABLE PhD
in Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Grazed PasturesUniversity
of Waikato, New Zealand

We
have an opening for a PhD candidate to make measurements of nitrous oxide and
carbon dioxide fluxes from grazed pastures using eddy covariance and chamber
techniques. Our team is currently measuring fluxes of carbon dioxide at four
eddy covariance tower sites over grazed pastures. We have recently installed a
quantum cascade laser system to measure nitrous oxide fluxes. The successful
candidate will initially test whether chamber measurements of nitrous oxide
match those of the eddy covariance tower. Our ultimate aim is to identify farm
management strategies that decrease nitrous oxide emissions while increasing
soil carbon and maintaining pasture production.

Ideally,
you will have experience or strong understanding of measurement of greenhouse
gases, such as nitrous oxide, and the ability and motivation to learn eddy
covariance techniques. A background in Matlab or similar scripting computer
language is desired.

You
will be part of a motivated team of researchers and students at the University
of Waikato with considerable experience in flux measurements. The PhD candidate
will be supervised by Drs Louis Schipper, Dave Campbell and Liyin Liang. Our
research team can be viewed: www.waiber.com.